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Church & State

Election 2008

A Look At Some Key Races

Prior to the election, Americans United compiled a list of House and Senate races considered important by the Religious Right, as well as state ballot referenda. A roundup of those results follows:

U.S. Senate

Colorado: Religious Right groups backed Robert Schaffer, who sought the seat being vacated by Wayne Allard. Their efforts failed, and U.S. Rep. Mark Udall defeated Schaffer 52 percent to 43 percent.

Georgia: Saxby Chambliss, an incumbent backed by Religious Right groups, defeated challenger James Martin but will face a runoff due to a Georgia law that requires a more-than-50-percent level for victory.

Minnesota: Religious Right groups hope to help incumbent Norm Coleman retain his seat against challenger Al Franken, a liberal satirist who has poked fun at the Religious Right in his books. At this writing, the race remains too close to call and was headed for a recount.

New Mexico: In this race for a seat being vacated by Pete Domenici, Religious Right groups backed Steve Pearce over U.S. Rep. Thomas Udall. Udall defeated Pearce easily, 61-39 percent.

North Carolina: Incumbent Elizabeth Dole, who in the final days of the race implied that challenger state senator Kay Hagan might be an atheist, was defeated by a vote of 53-44 percent. Some Religious Right groups had issued voter guides that promoted Dole.

North Carolina: Robin Hayes, an incumbent who worked closely with the Christian Coalition during that group’s heyday, was defeated by Larry Kissel, 55-45 percent.

Virginia: Incumbent House member Thelma Drake received a $2,300 contribution from TV preacher Pat Robertson, but it wasn’t enough to save her seat. Drake lost to Glenn Nye, 48 percent to 52 percent. In addition, Virgil H. Goode Jr., a former Democrat who often promoted “culture war” issues, apparently lost a tight race with Tom S. Perriello.

Ballot Questions

California: An amendment banning same-sex marriage passed, 52 percent to 48 percent. Exit polls indicated that Religious Right groups, the Roman Catholic hierarchy and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) were successful in mobilizing religious conservatives to oppose same-sex marriage.

Florida: Voters approved a state constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage by a vote of 62 percent to 38 percent.

Arizona: A same-sex marriage ban was added to the state constitution, 56 percent to 44 percent.

Arkansas: Voters approved a ban on unmarried couples adopting children, which is seen as a way to prevent same-sex couples from adopting, 57-43 percent.

Colorado: An attempt to add a “Human Life Amendment” to the Colorado Constitution failed 73-27 percent.

South Dakota: A proposal to ban most abortions failed 55-45 percent.

California: An amendment requiring physicians to provide notification to parents or guardians of minors at least 48 hours before performing an abortion lost 52 percent to 48 percent.

Michigan: Voters approved a change to state law to allow people to donate embryos left over from fertility treatments for stem-cell research 52 percent to 48 percent. Opposition to the measure was led by the Michigan Catholic Conference.

Connecticut: A ballot proposal to convene a state Constitutional Convention failed 60 percent to 40 percent. The state Catholic Conference heavily backed the plan, hoping to use it to win a ban on same-sex marriage and other church goals. Similar measures were defeated in Hawaii and Illinois by 2-1 margins.